Ore-concentrator.



G. W. EGGLESTON.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

- APPLICATION 11.31) DEC. 28, 1906.

1,053,367. Patented Feb. 18,1913.

3 SHEET5-SHEET 1.

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wax 14 COLUMBIA PuNouRAPI-l COHWASHI NGTON. D. c.

G. W. EGGLESTON.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2a, 1906.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTED sra'rps PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. ECCLESTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed December 28, 1906. Serial No. 349,906.

ores carried upon the table and at the same 1 time advance the. ore forward toward the delivery point.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the class described, which will separate and classify ores or minerals into separate classes in accordance with their specific gravity in a rapid and perfect manner and without loss of the values.

Another object of my invention is to provide a concentrator of large capacity, which, while being cheap to construct, can be easily 1 transported from the place of manufacture 1 to the place of use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible table top for ore concentrators which can be rolled up when transported.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible table top for ore concentra-j tors which can be readily adjusted so that different portions of such top will have different inclinations.

Broadly stated, my invention consists inl providing flexible suspension means for a concentrator table or surface so that rap1d impulses, or impulses of high frequency,

may be imparted thereto, whose tendency is to cause the material on such table or surface to be. kept in constant motion or agitation, and at the same time to cause the material to be treated to travel in one general direction;

My invention also consists in providing an ore concentrator with a flexible table or concentrating surface and also providing flexible means for uniformly stretching or suspending such table or surface and adjusting means for holding such table or surface in different planes or inclinations.

WVith these objects and purposes in view I have herein shown a form of mechanism and arrangement of parts which I have demonstrated to be such as will accomplish the desired results.

It is a well known principle in mechanics that a body will move in the line of least resistance, and it is also well known that to cause one body to be, moved forward by the reciprocatory movement of another body or surface the impelled body should be in contact therewith as much as possible during the forward. or impelling movement and out of contact therewith as much as possible on the return movement. In applying these' principles to the concentration of ores it is evident that when the table, or concentrating surface is moved longitudinally in either direction there. will be a tendency for it to move out of its own plane vertically on changing its course, or when it starts in the reverse direction, owing to the fact that there is lessresistance in that direction than in its own plane where its momentum is acting, and hence the path of the reciprocal movement of said surface will always be in a-vertical curve, to a greater or less degree,

depending on the means employed for counteracting such vertical movement.

I have discoveredthat by suspending the table, or concentrating surface, from its edges and placing it under tension substan. tially in its own plane, the vertical movement will be comparatively slight if the tension be sufficient, which I have found must be very great, amounting to hundreds of pounds with a comparatively light table. This vertical movement is further decreased at one end of the stroke by increasing the tension as the table approaches that end and, by making the increase of tension occur at the forward end, orat the beginning of the impelling stroke, at which time the table is stopped entirely by the operating mechanism, or has its slowest movement and, consequently, the least momentum, or no momentum at all, as the case may be, there is less tendency for the table to throw or pitch the ore vertically and, consequently, there is substantially no slippage or lost motion of the ore upon the table during the impelling stroke. I have also found that owing to the weight of the table and its load the vertical movement will be downward, and by causing it to take place mostly if not entirely at the end of the impelling stroke it will cause the table to be quickly withdrawn from under the ore which will thus permit the momentum of the ore to carry it forward entirely clear of the table, or with the least possible friction while the table is being re turned for a new stroke, and by making the strokes so short that the table is ready to again start forward by the time the ore and concentrates again come into contact or engagement with the table the concentrates will be carried forward with but little if-any backward movement and, consequently, their movement forward is substantially continuous from the time the ore is delivered to the table from the feed trough until the concentrates are discharged at the tail end of the table. In fact I have found that by using a table 12 feet long by 6 feet wide, weighing 115 pounds and placing it under about 1200 pounds tension through 24 supporting rods upon each side and giving it 505 reciprocations a minute with a of an inch stroke, the ore and concentrates vwill move'forward at the rate of 4: inches per second while the forward movement of the table is at the rate of only 3 inches per second. I have also found that the best results are obtained by causing the movement of the table to be such that the entire length of that portion of the table at the inner end of each rol will be upon one side of the point of attachment of the outer end of said rod with the frame, as then the rods are never without tension and, consequently, there is less opportunity for the table to move vertically at any point of its longitudinal movement in either direction. In addition to this, the forward movement of the ore is in an almost absolutely straight line which prevents the finer particles from being thrown up and exposed to the action of the wash water and they are thereby less liable to be carried off the table than would be the case where the vertical movement is more pronounced.

In addition to the foregoing advantages, the capacity of the machine can be increased and a better grade of concentrates can be secured by causing the ore to travel faster after it passes a certain part of the table toward the rear or discharge end than it did before reaching said part, which accelerated movement will prevent the concentrates from banking up as they approach the discharge end as is frequently the case with flat topped tables in which the decreasing amount of water that must be used at that point is not suflicient to cause the concentrates to be kept moving by themovement oft-he table. This advantage is secured by inclining the discharge end of the table from said certain part, preferably at a line running diagonally across the table from a point on the upper side to a point on the lower side nearer the discharge end. After the concentrates pass this line there is greater slippage, or return movement of the table under the concentrates before they can fall back onto it after the tablehas been given the slight vertical movement downward and forward as above described. In addition to this the water will flow faster toward the discharge end on this inclined portion of the table than if it were not so inclined and will carry the concentrates along with it. This, when used with the short, quick vibrations that are possible with my tensionally supported table enables me to very greatly increase the capacity of the machine and to secure a very high percentage of exceptionally clean concentrates.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a plan view, showing the manner of suspending or mounting the concentrating table. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 00 -00 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the table. Fig. 5 is a vertical elevation showing the arrangement of the laundtion showing the arrangement of the launders for catching the waste material and pulp the pulp to be worked on the table 1', and the launder for carrying away the waste pulp and waste water which is not to be further treated.

l is a table such as is especially adaptable for the purposes of my invention and is preferably made of cross pieces of thin strips of metal or wood 2, 2, etc., of the required strength which support and carry longitudinal pieces or strips 3 which serve to space and carry the cross strips 2, 2.

4:, t are truss bridges arranged on the under side of the table to carry the truss or strain rods 5, etc.

6, 6, etc., are tension rods or ties which connect the ends of cross strips 2, 2, etc., with the strain beams or side bars 7, 7. In the construction herewith shown, I employ a hooked screw threaded rod 8 and a butterfly nut 9 in order to adjustably bring the strain upon the tension rods 6.

1O, 10, etc., are hand wheels on rods 11, 11, etc., which are provided at their lower ends with a screw threaded portion to pass through screw threaded plates 12, 12, etc., on the cross bars for raising and lowering to adjust the table.

13, 13, etc., indicate guide-ways provided in the upper end of the posts 13 to receive and guide the cross bars 14.

15, 15, etc., are notches in the end of the cross bar 14 to seat and sustain the strain beams 7, 7.

16 is a wash water box.

17 is a pulp distributing box.

18 is the pulp launder for supplying pulp to the box 17.

19 is the launder for receiving the water and pulp from the edge 20 of the table.

21 indicates mechanism for operating the table, which is provided with a wheel 22 to be operated through mechanism 22.

23 is a pitman.

2 1, 24 are toggle rods pivoted respectively to the upper end of the pitman 23 and the pivots 25 and 26. v

27 is a pivoted upright rod pivoted at 26 to the toggle rod 24 and at the other end to a stationary pivotal point 28.

29, 29' and 29 are connecting means to connect the rod 27 to the tables to impart motion thereto.

30 indicates adjustable means to regulate the tension or strain between the pivotal point 26 and the table.

31, 31 indicate adjustable antifriction means arranged to direct the pull from the pivotal point 26 into a direct line with the plane of the table.

32 indicates adjustable means for regu lating the height of the antifriction adjusting means 31, 31.

1 indicates a secondary table arranged below the table 1 and is designed to receive the second class material and shines from the table 1 which are then reworked.

1 indicates a supplemental. table arranged at the end of the table 1, and is designed to receive the concentrated ore therefrom and to finally wash or dress such ores.

33 indicates a launder or lOOX arranged to catch the ores delivered from table 1, and to conduct the same to a receptacle when it is desired not to have them.delivered upon the supplemental table 1".

34: are brackets attached to the sides of the post-s 13 and are provided with openings through which pass the screw threaded rod 11, which is provided with a hand wheel '10 and operated through the plate 12 to raise and lower the table 1 in the same manner as the raising and lowering mechanism operates to raise and lower table 1.

In a table of 12 feet in length, I provide numerous cross strips 2, and have found in practice that they should be placed at about 7 inches apart and should be held in place by not less than three strips running longitudinally of the table to properly space them, such as 3, 3. Over the strips 2,

place a suitable covering such as properly treated canvas 35, or some other suitable material of like nature. This construction enables me to provide a table of very light material and of great strength, and by the use of the opposed tension rods 6, 6, etc., and the adjustable means, such as shown, I am enabled to stretch and suspend the table in a rigid manner between the strain beams or side bars 7 7 This straining or stretching suspension places the table under great tension and obviates the necessity of supporting or sustaining the table in any other manner, and also allows of imparting to such table a vibratory or agitating movement of high frequency, and I have discovered that 550 impulses to the minute can be imparted to such a table and a regular and uniform motion imparted to the ore, thereby producing a thorough and' uniform agitation of the materials carried upon the table, and at the same time imparting to the table a movement whose tendency is to advance.

the ores from the upper or feed end toward the foot or delivery end of the table, the material in the meantime being subjected to the transverse wash of watefi. I have also discovered that very little power is required to operate a table suspended in this manner. In practice the table is placed under opposed tension, as illustrated, and the operating mechanism is then adjusted through means, such as adjusting means 30 and 30', to draw the table forward to an appreciable extent as indicated in Fig. 1, the operating mechanism being at that time in its retracted position so that the forward motion of the mechanism will place a greater strain upon the tension means, the reverse or releasing movement of the mechanism acting to allow the table to retract, the tension devices causing the table to travel in the reverse direction.

The truss or strain rods 5, 5, etc., pass under the table and the truss bridges 4, and through the strain beams or side bars 7, 7. By increasing the tension on any one of these truss rods, that portion of the table surface above or contiguous to the truss bridge is actuated and is elevated, or by releasing the strain, it is correspondingly lowered down to the general plane of the table surface. It is to be understood that at all times the table surface is normally maintained in a common'plane by means of the strain rods 5, 5. a

I have discovered that by flexibly suspending an ore concentrating table or surface, that all friction is eliminated, as there is no relative or mechanical movement of the supporting means upon or against each .other, the only movement of such means being molecular or between the atoms or molecules comprising the same, and, consequently, vibrations of high frequency can be utilized to agitate and advance the ore on such surface with a minimum expenditure of energy and in such a manner that the particles of pulp are not given an upward movement. In other words, I have produced a frictionlessly supported ore concentrating surface which is reciprocally movable within its own plane, that is without preceptible vertical movement, whereby the particles of pulp are caused to move forward with a substantially uniform, continuous movement similar to being pushed in a straight line, while being agitated, which will permit the heavier particles to gradually settle to the bottom and remain there and thus force or crowd the lighter particles to the top where they will be subjected to the action of the stream of wash water which is constantly flowing across the same.

By making the concentrating surface flexible and supporting it within a rigid frame, or between rigid members, and then connecting the ends of the truss rods with said frame or members and having the intermediate portions of said rods arranged to support the surface, at intermediate points, as by means of bridges upon the underside of said surface, any portion of the surface above and adjacent to said bridges or points of support, can be raised or depressed relative to the remaining portion of the surface, which, in connection with the other vertical adjusting means, will permit of said surface being given such contour transversely and longitudinally as will cause the pulp and water to move in such volume and with such speed at such points as will secure the most desirable results with the particular ore being treated and will also permit of concentrates being discharged across the entire width of the surface, substantially clean and perfectly graded.

In the concentration of ores or minerals it is known that the best separation of the minerals is obtained by keeping the material in a constantly agitated condition, such agitation to be successful must also be uniform and of a moderate degree, and in my invention I have provided means for imparting to the body of material, such as the ore and the water, a degree of agitation to cause the lighter particles to be carried over the heavier particles by the action of the current of water flowing in a direction at an angle to the travel of the ore and at the same time to allow the heavier particles to remain in close proximity to the table surface and out of the influence of the top flow of water.

In operation the ore is fed by suitable means such as a launder 18 with sufiicient water to carry it through the feed box 17 upon the table 1. The table being in the meantime transversely inclined toward the lower edge 20. The operating mechanism 21 imparting to the table impulses or movements of high frequency whose tendency is to advance such ore longitudinally its length; wash water is evenly supplied to the upper edge of the table by means of the wash water box 16.

In the majority of cases the table surface will be operated in one plane as disclosed in the drawings, but it is obvious that when it is desired to cause the concentrating surface to assume different inclinations that such result may be obtained by raising such portion of the table surface desired, by means of the hand wheels 10 and screw rods 11; the frame work of the table being of such construction that it will contort and thus impart to the table surface a complex inclination; this result may also be augmented by means of the truss rods acting against the truss bridges as heretofore explained.

When it is desired to transport the table, the longitudinal strips 3, 3, etc, are removed together with the wash water distributor and feed box and the table may then be rolled up with the strips 2, 2, etc., running lengthwise of the roll, thus forming a neat and compact package which can be carried upon the backs of animals into places inaccessible to wagons or like carriers.

I have also discovered that by flexibly suspending or mounting a light concentrator table or surface that the power required to operate such table is absorbed or dissipated in the table; that is to say, the momentum of such table does not communicate mot-ion or distributing action to the supporting frame. This enables me to suspend or mount two or more tables or sur faces in one frame work without having the motion of one concentrating surface interfering or communicating to the other surface any disturbing motions.

By providing a table of very light construction I am enabled to impart to such table rapid impulses, as the momentum of such table is easily overcome, and by suspending such table by the means shown, the table responds instantly to the movement of the operating mechanism, thereby insuring the proper movement to cause the ore to trgyel along the longitudinal length of the ta e.

Now having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ore concentrator, a concentrating table or surface having a reciprocatory movement whose tendency is to carry the material longitudinally forward toward the tail or foot of the table, and opposite flexible tension means arranged to operatively support such concentrating surface and place the same under tension substantially in its own plane.

2. In an ore concentrator, a concentrating surface having a reciprocatory movement whose tendency is to carry the material longitudinally forward toward the tail or foot of the table, means oppositely arranged to operatively support said surface and place the same under tension substantially in its own plane, and means for increasing said tension at one end of the reciprocatory movement.

3. In an ore concentrator, a concentrating table or surface having reciprocatory movement whose tendency is to carry the material longitudinally forward toward the tail or foot of the table, and opposed flexible tension means extending from opposite edges of the same to operatively support such concentrating surface and place the same under tension substantially in its own plane.

1. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a concentrating table or surface having a reciprocatory movement whose tendency is to carry the material forward toward the tail or foot of the table, and opposed flexible supporting means extending in the plane of the table from the opposite edges thereof to said frame for operatively supporting the table and placing it under tension in its own plane.

5. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a concentrating table, straight supporting means extending from opposite edges thereof to the frame substantially in the plane of the table, adjustable means for placing the supporting means under variable opposed tension, and means for reciprocating the table,

in'a longitudinal direction only.

6. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a continuous, flexible concentrating surface, means extending from opposite edges thereof to the frame for operatively supporting said surface and placing it under opposed tension substantially in its own plane, means for varying the positions vertically of different portions of said surface, and means for reciprocating said surface in a longitudinal direction only.

7 In an ore concentrator, a frame, means for moving different portions of the same vertically independently of the remaining portions, a concentrating surface, means from opposite edges thereof to said frame for operatively supporting the surface and placing it under opposed tension substantially in its own plane, and means for reciprocating said surface in a longitudinal direction only.

8. In an ore concentrator a frame, a flexible concentrating surface, yielding means from the opposite edges thereof to said frame for operatively supporting the surface and placing it under tension, means for varying said opposed tension, means for varying the elevation of diflerent portions of said surface relatively to the remaining portions, and means for reciprocating said surface in a longitudinal direction only.

9. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a transversely inclined concentrating surface, rods extending from the opposite edges of said surface to said frame substantially at right angles thereto for operatively supporting the surface and placing it under tension substantially in its own plane, and

means for reciprocally moving said surface in a path transversely to said rods, said means being arranged to decrease the speed of said movement toward the forward end of its stroke and to simultaneously therewith increase the tension on the table.

10. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a transversely inclined concentrating table, rods ext-ending from the opposite edges of said surface to said frame for operatively supporting the surface and placing it under tension in its own plane, and means for re ciprocally moving the table longitudinally transverse of said rods, the entire length of the movement of the table at the inner end of each rod being wholly upon one side of the point of attachment of the outer end of said rod with the frame.

11. In an ore concentrator, a frame provided with flexible portions, means for moving said portions vertically variant distances, a transversely inclined concentrating surface, adjustable means from the opposite edges thereof to said flexible portions for operatively supporting the surface and placing it under tension substantially in its own plane, adjustable truss rods under said surface, for varying the height of the surface, and means for reciprocating the surface longitudinally.

12. In an ore concentrator, a frame, one part of which is adjustably movable vertically relatively to the other part, a flexible surface therein provided with longitudinally extending riflies, adjustable tension rods extending from opposite sides of said surface to the movable part of the frame, truss rods extending from said movable part under the surface, supports from said truss rods to the intermediate portions of said surface, means for varying the tension of the truss rods, and means for reciprocating said surface longitudinally.

13. In an ore concentrator,.a frame, one part of which is movable vertically relatively to the other part, screws from the stationary part of the frame to the movable part for adjusting thelatter, a flexible concentrator surface tensionally supported within the movable part of the frame, truss rods extending from said movable part under the surface, bridges between the truss rods and the surface, means for varying the tension of said rods, and means for reciprocating the said surface longitudinally.

14. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a concentrating surface tensionally supported therein, said surface comprising longitudinal strips and transverse cross pieces of flexible material secured together at their points of intersection, a flexible covering on said strips having its upper face adapted for concentrating purposes, flexible supports connected with and extending from the ends of the cross pieces to the frame,

means for adjusting said surface vertically, and means for reciprocating the surface longitudinally.

v 15. An ore concentrator comprising a main frame provided with strain beams, a concentrator surface within said frame provided with cross strips, adjustable hooks in the strain beams, rods flexibly connected 'with said strips and with said hooks, means for normally holding the concentrating surface forward so as to place said rods at an angle and under tension, and means for intermittently moving the surface so as to increase the tension and the angle of said rods.

16. An ore concentrator comprising a frame provided with cross bars, strain beams at the ends of said bars, adjustable means for "supporting said bars and beams, a concentrating surface above said bars, oppositely extending, inclined rods flexibly connected with said surface and with said strain beams, and means for intermittently moving said surface so as to increase the inclination and the tension of said rods to impart an oscillatory movement to the surface.

17. An ore concentrator comprising a frame provided with cross bars, st ain beams at the ends of said bars, plates in the bars adjacent to said beams, screw threaded rods engaging with said plates for adjusting said bars vertically, a concentrating surface tensionally supported from said strain beams, and means for longitudinally vibrating said surface in its own plane.

18. In an ore concentrator, a pliable concentrating surface, means for stretching the same, means for engaging with and withstanding the strain of said stretching means, and means upon opposite edges of said surface for varying the position of said withstanding means vertically, whereby said surface may be caused to assume different relative angles.

19. In an ore concentrator, a frame, a pliable concentrating surface, means for stretching said surface in' the frame, trusses adjustably connected at their ends to the frame at opposite sides of the surface and extending under the surface, means on the trusses for engaging with the under side of said surface for holding the same against downward movement, and means for adjusting said frame and said surface vertically at different points longitudinally thereof, whereby the surface may be given a bent or twisted contour.

20. In an ore concentrator, a. concentrating surface, means for differentially reciprocating the same, opposed tensional means extending from the concentrating surface in the plane thereof and arranged to operatively support the same to allow the surface to be reciprocated in a longitudinal direction only.

21. In an ore concentrator, a concentrating surface, means for longitudinally reciprocating the same, flexible tension means connected to and extending outwardly from two of the edges of such concentrating surface to operatively support the same, and means for regulating the pull of the tension means.

22. In an ore concentrator, a concentrating surface, tension means attached to and extending outwardly from opposite edges of said surface in approximately the same plane thereof, means for regulating the pull of such tension means, and means acting against said tension means to reciprocate the concentrating surface at an angle to said tension means.

23. In an ore concentrator, a concentrating surface, opposed flexible tension means arranged to support the surface thereof and to allow the same to be reciprocated in a longitudinal direction only.

24. In an ore concentrator, a flexible imperforate table, means for differentially reciprocating the same, and flexible means for reciprocatii'lg said table and placing the same under tension in its own plane.

25. In an ore concentrator, an. imperforate table, means for differentially reciprocating the same, and flexible means for supporting said table and placing the same under tension in its own plane.

26. In an ore concentrator, a reciprocating table, means for differentially reciprocating the same, and opposed flexible tension means for supporting said table and placing the same under tension in its-own plane.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 20th day of December, 1906.

CHARLES W. ECCLESTON.

In presence of F. M. TOWNSEND, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

